Tap Dance

Tap dancing is defined by the creation of sounds made in a rhythmic pattern when the foot strikes or steps onto the floor. The easiest tap steps to learn are flap, shuffle, and ball change. They...

Although the quick movements and loud noises make tap dances seem complicated, routines are often comprised of a few basic steps, with some added flair if the performer is a seasoned dancer. Below...

Time steps were created to keep time. They are fairly simple and one of the most widely used tap steps in musical theatre. Buck time steps are ones that do not have a shuffle in them. You should...

Performing the double buffalo, in tap dance, involves picking up one foot, striking the flat part of the tap on the floor and then landing on one foot. Learn to perform the double buffalo tap...

The Maxi Ford, in tap dance, involves stepping on one foot, shuffling with the opposing foot, hopping and then switching feet. Learn more about the Maxie Ford dance step and tap dance from a tap...

A shuffle is a forward and then backward brush of the ball of the foot against the floor. However, a shuffle can be done as a quick treble, which it is in the treble hop (which also includes a...

The shuffle is one of the integral steps in tap dancing. A dancer must learn how to execute it early in her dance class experience. The shuffle pops up in time steps as well as in Shuffle Off to...

The split riff, or the Hines riff, was one of legendary dancer Gregory Hines's signature steps. Hines starred in the dance film "Tap" in 1989 with another famous dancer, Sammy Davis Jr. Both were...

The Bombershay step is derived from a social dance, most likely the Suzi-Q, which was a popular dance step in the 1930s. In time, the Bombershay became a jazz step. Later on, tap dancers began...

The Maxie Ford dance step is named after Max Ford, who was a buck and wing dancer in vaudeville. The Maxie Ford, in its various incantations, can make between five and 14 sounds, all depending on...

In this combination, the dancer puts together a brush (done diagonally) with heel and ball drops, but she does it while she is making a full turn, either to the left or to the right, depending on...

A cramproll is frequently done in military dance routines because the sound of the cramproll approximates the sound of a drum roll. A basic cramproll is defined as two quick steps followed by two...

The "essence" is the basic step in the soft shoe. If you were doing a single back essence you would do a spank, which is a back brush, on your starting foot. Then step down on your opposite foot,...

Pullbacks require air time, which means that the dancer is going to spring into the air and at one point neither foot is on the ground. Having strong legs, knees and ankles will help propel you...

The around-the-world cramp roll is sometimes referred to as the trading cramp roll or alternating cramp roll. A basic cramp roll consists of two steps followed by two heel drops. Of course, the...

If you are going to tap dance, you are going to do ball changes. A ball change consists of two steps, one on each foot, and you shift your weight from one foot to the other. A ball change often...

After a dancer learns the basic steps in tap dancing--such as a shuffle, toe tips, ball changes--that's when it gets really exciting because she can combine these basic steps into more complicated...

A pullback is generally done on one foot. The pullback can land on the foot that is pulling back, or it can land on the opposite foot. In this dance step, the dancer is going to pull back on both...

The Shuffle Off to Buffalo step in tap dancing heralds back to the days of Vaudeville. It was used as an exit step. The dancers did it while exiting from the stage. This version of the Buffalo has...

When a dancer incorporates a turn into her dance routine, it always notches up the difficulty somewhat, but also makes the dance routine more exciting to do and to watch. In the stamp step riff...

The "Buffalo" step in tap dancing has been around for years (think back to the days of vaudeville), and was devised so the dancers could get off the stage while dancing, rather than walking off....

The regular Cincinnati is derived from a very old dance step called Back to the Woods. The only difference between these two steps is that the dancer does a heel drop in the Cincinnati, whereas...

The "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" step in tap dancing debuted in a Buffalo, New York theater called Shea's many years ago. It was created as an exit step or a way for the dancer to get off stage while...

Make sure that your ankles are warmed up and limber before attempting the Steel because your ankles are going to get a work-out. This is intricate tap dancing and the dancer must get five...

The scap is a quirky variation on the basic flap, a step that is frequently done in tap dancing. When a dancer flaps, she brushes to the front on the ball of her foot and then steps down. In the...

The Irish pullback toe flap is an advanced step. It is a variation of the basic Irish step, which consists of a shuffle hop and then a step to the back or to the front, depending on if you are...

The Spiel has been described as a reverse drawback, which is an accurate description; however, unlike in the drawback, the dancer does not move to the back when executing the Spiel, which consists...

The Stephunky is like a drawback step in tap dancing, except a drawback is a backward moving step and the Stephunky stays in place. The drawback was named by a well-known dancer, Jack Stanly. The...

In the shuffle pullback heel combination you will do a pullback, which is sometimes called a pick-up. You must do a spank (which is a back brush) on the foot that is bearing your weight. This is...

The blur is a tap dancing step that moves from side and side and alternates from foot to foot. It consists of a simple shuffle step and a scuff dig toe series, which is not so typical. When tap...

No, this is not Twister the game, where you twist and contort your body on a mat; however, there is some twisting involved in this dance step. The dancer jumps up and comes down on both feet...

The drawback was given its name by a well-known New York dance teacher, Jack Stanly. It is considered part of the close to the floor work genre in tap dancing. Drawbacks travel to the back, and...

In the step riff brush heel combination, the dancer does a riff. It is preceded by a step and followed by a forward brush, which isn't the traditional follow-up step to a riff. A heel drop is also...

A riffle in tap dancing is a three-sound combination that includes a forward riff followed by a back brush, which is also called a spank. Some dance instructors teach a riffle as a brush to the...

The Jinnyshay is a variation of a bombershay, which is sometimes referred to in the dance world as a toe clip. In a regular bombershay, the dancer starts with her heel in a digging position with...

A cramproll is described as a rapid dance movement that combines steps and heels. Sometimes the cramproll is referred to as a cranch or a crunch. The sound that a cramproll makes approximates a...

The pendulum shuffle is a basic shuffle with a twist. The dancer will brush backward and forward diagonally, which results in one foot being crossed in front of the support leg. This step isn't...

The Bam Bam step in tap dancing is reminiscent of the moves that one makes when playing the childhood game of hopscotch; however, a scuff is required in the Bam Bam, which increases the degree of...

The Irish Shiggy Bop consists of a shuffle followed by a scuff and a heel; however, it's not as simple as it sounds. In fact, is considered an extremely challenging tap dance step. Sometimes this...

The Nicaela Quick tap dancing step includes a three beat riff. A riff occurs when two sounds/taps are made by the dancer, including one tap created by the ball of the foot and the other tap made...

The Flabbergast, which was created by one of Rod Howell's tap-dancing students, is an intricate dance combination, comprised of five sounds/taps. The dancer must think ahead and consider where her...

This step is called a Treadmill because it approximates the movements a person makes when on a treadmill. In the Treadmill, you will do a pullback switch, which is also known as a pick-up change,...

The Rise is a flashy tap dancing combination and requires that the dancer stand on her toe--for a second. The combination includes a back brush, also known as a spank, a toe dig, a step--the easy...

When a dancer does a shuffle, which is one of the first steps that a tap dancing student will learn, she learns to brush the ball of her foot to the front and then to the back. A quirky variation...

Often the key to successfully executing a tap dancing combination is knowing which foot to shift your weight onto and when. Additionally, paying attention to little things---such as keeping your...

A traditional Irish step in tap dancing entails a shuffle hop and a step. The dancer can step down to the front or to the back, which determines if she is traveling to the front or to the back. In...

The sugar bop is an example of very intricate, close footwork. The dancer must shift her weight at the appropriate times so she can execute this combination. In addition, she must swivel her feet...

The spat is done very quickly, and is a jazzy-looking tap-dancing step. However, getting the hang of balancing on the tip of your toe, even momentarily, will take some practice. All dancers learn...

Sometimes when you are tap dancing you are required to balance. You might have to balance on one flat-foot or on your heel or heels or on a toe or toes. In the Rorymeister you are required to do a...

When you hear a frap executed, it sounds as though a flap has been done, but it has not. A flap occurs when the dancer brushes the ball of the foot to the front and then steps down on it. There...